A REMARKABLE 5¢ 1847 ISSUE COVER TO AN OFFICER SERVING IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR, RETURNED TO PHILADELPHIA AS HE HAD ALREADY LEFT FOLLOWING THE END OF THE WAR. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED 5¢ 1847 COVER TO MEXICO.

Elisha Kent Kane (1820-1857) was an American explorer, and a medical officer in the United States Navy during the first half of the 19th century. He was a member of two Arctic expeditions to rescue the explorer Sir John Franklin. He was present at the discovery of Franklin's first winter camp, but he did not find out what had happened to the fatal expedition. On September 14, 1843, he became Assistant Surgeon in the Navy. He served in the China Commercial Treaty mission under Caleb Cushing, in the Africa Squadron, and in the United States Marine Corps during the Mexican-American War. One battle that Kane fought in was at Nopalucan on January 6, 1848. At Napolucan, he captured, befriended and saved the life of Mexican General Antonio Gaona and the General's wounded son.